{"id":2554,"date":"2026-04-15T22:55:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T20:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bramexplus.com\/?page_id=2554"},"modified":"2026-07-01T19:12:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:12:17","slug":"sabbatical-and-private-health-insurance-in-germany","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bramexplus.com\/en\/sabbatical-and-private-health-insurance-in-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"Sabbatical and Private Health Insurance in Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Practical guide for Germany<\/div>\n\n

Sabbatical in Germany: what happens to your private health insurance<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

\n If you're thinking about taking a career break, travelling or going on a sabbatical, it's worth reviewing your health insurance before you take the step. In Germany you can't go without health coverage and, if you have private insurance, your situation can change quite a bit during a sabbatical.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n Calculate insurance<\/a>\n See frequently asked questions<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\ud83d\udee1\ufe0f Insurance required during the break<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udcb6 Potential to reduce costs<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udc68\u200d\u2695\ufe0f Personalized advice<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n \u2708\ufe0f<\/span>\n Image \u00b7 760 \u00d7 600 px<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Your coverage must stay planned<\/p>\n

During a sabbatical you may pay the full premium, find an Anwartschaft worthwhile, or also need international insurance.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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What a sabbatical is and why it affects your health insurance<\/h2>\n

A sabbatical is a career break agreed with your employer. It can last a few months or even a year. The catch is that, even if you stop working temporarily, health insurance in Germany is still mandatory and can't be improvised.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Your usual employment situation is interrupted<\/h3>\n

If the sabbatical is unpaid, you stop receiving a salary and your employer no longer contributes to your insurance in the same way. This changes the real cost of your coverage and means you need to review how your policy will work during that time.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Your residence and your coverage still matter<\/h3>\n

If you keep your residence in Germany, you can't go without health insurance. And if you also spend time abroad, you may need to combine the German solution with international medical coverage.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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PKV doesn't pause on its own<\/h3>\n

Having private health insurance doesn't mean the policy stops automatically during your career break. You need to review the contract and weigh whether it's better to keep full coverage, reduce it, or protect your right to return.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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\n <\/span>\n Your options\n <\/div>\n

Your options if you have private insurance during a sabbatical<\/h2>\n

There's no single solution that works for everyone. The best option depends on how long the sabbatical lasts, whether you'll stay in Germany or go abroad, your budget, and whether you want to keep your current terms intact.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Keep your private insurance<\/h3>\n

The simplest option if you want to stay covered in Germany<\/p>\n

You can keep your private health insurance exactly as before, but paying the full cost yourself. It's a convenient option because you don't have to switch systems or reorganise your coverage afterwards.<\/p>\n